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Gay Spiritual Functions

Christian de
la
Huerta,
founder of Q-Spirit in San Francisco, is author of Coming Out
Spiritually: the next step.

He identifies ten roles that gay people play, and have
played,
in human culture. He calls these “spiritual functions.” Here are the
ten categories along with de la Huerta’s descriptions:

1) Catalytic Transformers: Queer people often function as
catalysts, acting as agents of change, helping to bring about reform,
inciting social movements, and supporting the advancement of humanity.2) Outsiders: As outsiders, queer people help society to
more
accurately perceive itself. We reflect diversity and help society
determine its limits and boundaries.3) Consciousness Scouts: One of the traditional roles we
have played
throughout history has been discovering new paths, searching out new
answers, being “consciousness scouts”--those who go first to see what
lies ahead.4) Sacred Clowns and Eternal Youth: Queer people seem to
embody a spirit of humor and youthfulness, qualities that often bring
entertainment, sustenance, and a refreshing sense of joy to the world.5) Keepers of Beauty: Throughout history, queer people
have been
responsible for creating, promoting, and supporting much of the world’s
art and beauty, and have done so disproportionately to our numbers.6) Caregivers: Gay people have fulfilled the function of
healers,
teachers, and caregivers of all types--from physicians to massage
therapists, from counselors to flight attendants, and in all forms of
the service industry.7) Mediators: Gay people have often served as mediators or
“go-betweens,” particularly between the genders as well as between the
physical and spiritual realms.8) Shamans and Priests: Throughout history, and across
many cultures,
queer people often have assumed roles of spiritual leadership, and have
been honored, respected, and revered for doing so.9) The Divine Androgyne: The sacred writings of several
spiritual
traditions include references to the concept of “holy androgyny”--the
marriage within each person of both female and male aspects of the
psyche, which could have evolutionary significance.10) Gatekeepers: According to some traditions, gay people
have
a “higher vibrational level” and are uniquely suited for the role of
“gatekeepers,” or “guardians of the gateways, with the spiritual world.”

Christian de la Huerta is one of the important "luminaries" -- to use
Joseph Kramer's partly tongue-in-cheek expression -- of the gay
spirituality movement.

His book, Coming Out Spiritually, has helped a huge number of
modern day gay men and lesbians understand the spiritual roots of their
personalities.

Toby Johnson, PhDis
author of nine books: three non-fiction books that apply the wisdom of
his
teacher and "wise old man," Joseph Campbell to modern-day social and
religious problems, four gay genre novels that dramatize spiritual
issues at the heart of gay identity, and two books on gay men's
spiritualities and the mystical experience of homosexuality and editor
of a collection of "myths" of gay men's consciousness.

Johnson's book
GAY
SPIRITUALITY: The Role of Gay Identity in the Transformation of
Human Consciousness won a Lambda Literary Award in 2000.

His GAY
PERSPECTIVE: Things Our [Homo]sexuality Tells Us about the Nature
of God and the Universe was nominated for a Lammy in 2003. They
remain
in
print.

FINDING
YOUR OWN TRUE MYTH: What I Learned from Joseph Campbell: The Myth
of the Great Secret III tells the story of Johnson's learning the
real nature of religion and myth and discovering the spiritual
qualities of gay male consciousness.